How to Treat Irritation of the Inner Ear

Pain and irritation in the ear can be beyond bothersome. It can be rather annoying and keep you from doing simple, everyday tasks. Along with inner ear irritation comes sharp, dull pain and itching in an area that you cannot easily reach. You may be tempted to grab the nearest cotton-tipped swab and jam it into your ear, but that is one of the worst things you can do. Relieving inner ear irritation can be achieved with relative ease if done correctly.

Things You'll Need

• Baby oil
• Eyedropper
• Rubber-bulb syringe
• Warm water
• Towel
• Over-the-counter earwax removal kit
• Cold pack or cold washcloth
• Over-the-counter pain reliever
• Chewing gum

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Instructions

• 1

  Remove excess earwax. A buildup of earwax can cause your inner ear to become irritated and itchy. To remove the wax, you must first soften it by applying a few drops of baby oil using an eyedropper twice a day for no more than 5 days. After you have softened the wax, use a rubber-bulb syringe and gently squirt warm water into your ear canal. Tilt your head to the side to drain the water out of your ear, and dry your outer ear with a towel.

• 2

  Buy an over-the-counter earwax removal kit. Most department stores sell products that are designed to remove earwax. Before purchasing any earwax removal kit, read all the directions and warnings on the box.

• 3

  Apply a cold pack to the outer ear for 20 minutes to help reduce pain caused by inner ear irritation. You can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to combat the pain.

• 4

  Chew a piece of gum. Extra pressure in the ear canal can led to irritation and pain. Chewing gum can relieve pressure that has built up in the ear.

• 5

  Seek the help of a doctor. Many times an inner ear irritation is caused by an ear infection. Make an appointment with your primary care physician. He will examine your ear canal and, if it is an infection, will treat it accordingly with the proper antibiotics.